Cushion for railroad-rails, frog and switch rails, &amp; c.



. Patented Mar. 0, |902. .B. GUMBAR. A RAILS, FROG AND-SWITCH RAILS, &I:. aim Med Dec. 20, 1901.)

, CUSl-IION FUR RAILROAD [Applic (No Modal.)

UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTQ OF THREEFOURTHS TO WILLIAM BARKLIE HENRY, TRUSTEE, AND I-IoEAc 'I-LEUR ELL, on PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA.

CUSHION FOR RAILROAD-R AILS, FROG AND. SWITCH RAILS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 695,42 9, dated March 11, 19 02,

Application filed December 20, 1901. Serial No. 86,698. (No model.) A

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMOS B. GoMBAaaciti zen of the United states residing;at Gornwells, in the county of Bucks, State of Pennsylvania; have invented a new anduseful lm provement in Cushions -f or Railroad-Rails, Frog and Switch Rails, 850., of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a cushiontor a rail, frog, switch, and other parts of a rail road-track, the samebeingformed of asbestos, and thereby adapted to be effective in deadening the sound of a train passing thereover, preventing the cutting of the tie or sleeper on which the rail is supported, as well as its destruction from fire,and securing more effectively the rail to the tie or sleeper, other advantages beingvpresented, as will beh'ereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 represents an end View of a cushion embodying my invent-ion. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a cushion which is adapted to be interposed between the rail of a railroadtrack, frog,

. switch, 850., and the supporting tie'or sleeper,

therefor, the same being formed of a sheet or mat of asbestos, which is properly shaped for such cushion, it being seen thatsaidcushion owing to its nature deadens the'sound of the train and prevents cutting of the tie by the weight of the rail and the load superimposed thereon, while it is also preventedfrom being cut by the rail, the'cushion, furthermore, not being liable to be ignited by sparks, cinders, 850., nor to corrode, absorb moisture, and cause the tie to rot, while it is comparatively indestructible. Furthermore, it acts as a compensating andresilientdevice between the rail and the tie or sleeper to take up the swelling and shrinking of the latter, due to wet and dry weather, thus obviating the drawing of the spike, thenecessity of .re-

firmlyfastened'to the tie or sleeper than heretofore.- Again, the, cushion formed of ashestos lessens the: degree of heat of the rail, 'while'g-a metal tie-plate increases such heat. The former is important fromthe fact that heat causing expansion and contraction does 'moredamagejand gives g'reaterdifficulties in track.work-than any other-known element; hence the value of fthe'device in lessening theasbestos is'porous and comparatively immuthe wave motions of the rail to pass through the spikes or fastenings, leaving the latter unafiected in their driven position.

The pad or mat may be primarily cut or punched out for the spikes, or the necessary openings may be formed in the same by the driving of the spikes therethrough.

In the use of the word asbestos I include nent part. I 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A cushion switch, or other partof a track, composed of asbestos. 1

a rail of a railroad, frog, switch or other part of atrack and the supporting tie or sleeper therefor.

cushion for a rail of a railroad, frog, switch or other part of a track composed of an immutable porous substance between said part and a support therefor, allowing sufficient space to permit the wave motion of the rail, &c., to pass through the spikes or. fasdriven position.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, WM. OANER WIEDERSHEIM.

2. A'cushion of asbestos interposed between toning, leaving them unaitected in their,

AMOS B. GOMBAR.

spiking, and enabling the rail to be more heat. FuItherm'ore, the. cushion formed of table and allows sufficient space to permit:

material in which asbestos may be a compo- 1 for a rail of..arailroad, frog, 

